Timer and distributer for electrical ignition purposes.



J. B. FRAWLEY. TIMER AND DISTRIBUTER FOR ELECTRICAL IGNITION PURPOSES.

APPLICATION FILED MAILZG, 1913.

1,123,121. Patented Dec.29,1914.

WITNESSES: IN VEN TOR.

% James B. Frawleg j/fW ATTORNE Y5 niarrnn STATES PATENT onnion JAMES B. FRAVTLEY, OF PITTSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNQR T PITTSFIELD SPARK COIL COMPANY, OF SACHUSETTS.

DALTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAS- TIMER AND DISTRIBUTER FOR ELECTRICAL IGNITION PURPOSES. v i

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 29, 19140 Application filed March 26, 1913. Serial No. 756,869.

, To all whom it may concern:

where the cables are constantly being moved when the timing mechanism is operated, they soon work loose, causing 1nefiic1ent 1gnition and operation of the internal combustion engine.

The invention, in general, comprises a hollow open-ended casing-member (prefer ably made of insulating material of high resistance and having metallic insert pieces therein to which the high tension cables are secured, as by soldering), a spark-current distributer disk located within this casing and adaptedto be rotated past the inner endsof the high tension cables, and a makeand-break device that is adjustable with relation to thefixed casing for advancing orretarding the time that the primary circuit is opened and the occurrence of the spark at thespark plugs.

- In the drawings,Figure 1 is an end elevation, looking toward the end of the device to which the cables are secured, and

also showing, in dotted lines, the distributer for conveying the high-tension current of the coil, or magneto to the lndivldualca- ,bles; also illustrating, partly in full lines and partly" in-dotted lines, the make-andbreak device for the primary circuit,the full lines representing one position and the dotted lines a difierent position of the timer mechanism. Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken through the axis of the cam-shaft and showing the interior construction of the distributer mechanism; also the make-andbreak device in the primary circuit.

Referring to the drawings in detail,-a designates the fixed casing to which is rigidly secured, as by shrinking or a driving fit, the bracket-member b that is formed with openings 0 therein for. attaching it to a fixed support on the engine or other suitable framework. Secured to the I fixed member or casing a is a hollow, open-ended, cup-shaped member (Z formed of hard rubber or other suitable insulating material and suitably secured to the member a, as by screws d. This member is usually made of molded insulating material of very high resistance, and secured within the end portion thereof is a cup-shaped piece 6 that is interiorly threaded to receive the perforated threaded terminal fitting f and to which the core 9 of the cable It is secured. Extending into the space 2' within the member (Z is the terminal j that is in electrical connection with the wire g of the cable It.

70 designates-the distributer disk of insulating material having a plate m secured thereto. This plate conveys the high-ted sion spark currents from the cable 0, which is the high tension cable from the secondary coil of a spark coil,the current being conveyed to the distributer 70 by. means of the carbon brush 7; which is always in contact with the plate m, being normally forced against the same by means of a spring 9; and it will be seen that when the shaft 9 is rotated the spark-current will be successively distributed by. means of the plate m to the four distributer cables h that lead to the several spark plugs, in the wellknown manner.

8 designates a recessed casing-member that is loosely mounted for movement through a small are upon a turned portion a of the member a, and within this casingmember are carried the make-and-break devices for the primary circuit and indicated by the letters If and u, and the contacts 21 and w thereon.

w designates the make-and-break cam on the shaft-r and y the rolleron the inner end of the lever 2.. When the shaft r is rotated, the cam :0 causes the lever t and its contact a thereon to be moved against the contact '20, which will close the circuit in the primary winding of the coil in the usual anism is adapted to be moved by means of a suitable connection s? extending from the casing 8 into the dotted-line positions by. means of the connection 8 to vary'the time of the currents of the spark in the secondary circuit The casing s is formed with an opening or slot 5, and a pint which is 7 points '0 and w.

secured to the casing a enters'the same,- whereby the movements of the timer device and'its casing may be limited. The recess or chamber3 is adapted'to be closed by means of a plate 8 as shown at 8*, whereby access can readily be had to the contact The inner ends of the cables h pass A through collars (Z that are threaded, to the projections (1 These collars serve .to

rigidly retain the ends ot the cables 72, in;

place as they engage the outer side of the cables, as clearly shown. l it will be seen from this construction that the casing a and the cables it always remain in a fixed and permanent position while the timer device. is movable thereon and relative thereto,"-as desired} The cam 'a; is carriedby the shaft 7' to which the 'tributer cables secured to the fixed casing -member, a rotating member to convey the. sPark cui-rent to the distributer cables, a recessed timer casihg-membermounted for movement through a small are on the fixed casing, a make-and-break device carried by the recessed casing and located therein, .a

cam element .on the distributer-shaft to open and close the make-and-break device, all constructed and arranged to permit the occurrence of the spark current' to be varied without moving the cables which carry the Spark-current, as described.

2. In an electrical timer and distributer 4 for ignition systems designedto. retain the high-tension 'cables in a fixed position, the combination, ofla fixed member to which said cables are secured, a distributer-plate rotatably mounted in the fixed-member to convey the spark-current to said cables, a

second casing-member having arecess there- "in, make-,and-break' devices located in the recessed portion of the second casing-memher, said second member being mounted for movement through an arc on the first mentioned casing-member to varythe time of making and breaking the contacts by said devices to vary the time of making and brealn'ng the spark in the spark-current,

and means to operate the make-and-break devices, as. described.

3. In an electrical timer and distributer forignit'ion systems, designed to retamthe high tension conductors .III a fixed pos1t1on,.

.the'combination with a fixed casing memher, of a segmental conducting plate, ro-

tatablymounted in said casing member, a

conductor in contact with said plate other conductors distributed in the Path of said plate, a second casing, pivoted to sa d first named casing and adaptedjfor lim ted relative movement thereto,-make and break do vices located in said second casing, a-shaft,

and a cam on said shaft for operating sai makewand-break devices, as described.

an s B. FRAWLEY. Witnesses:

HENRY A. Boom,

x W. Bowma- 

